Improvement in reversible knob-latches



B. ERBE.

Reversible Knoh-Latches.

N0. l4,430. v Patented August51873.

Alll!|IINUHIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIUH! im M5 UNTTEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BARTHEL ERBE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPRQVEMENT IN REVERSIBLE KNOB-LATCHES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,430, dated August 5, 1873 application filed June 12,1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BARTHEL ERBE, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement' in Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,

and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a face view of my improved lock, the operative parts of the latch being shown by dotted lines; and Fig. 2 is a perspective vlew of the same illustrating the manner in which the bolt is freed, so as to be reversed.

Like letters oi' reference indicate like parts in each.

My improvement consists iu a reversible latch-bolt case with a front edge-plate made in two parts, each part forming two adjacent sides oi' the bolt-hole, and one part 'sliding lengthwise ot the bolt to permit of the reversal of the bolt, substantially as hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe its construction and manner of operation.

The lock-case is divided into two parts, m1, the part c consisting of the face and-the upper edge a3, and that portion of the front edge a2 which is above or bounds the upper side of the bolt b. The parts a al are secured together by means oi' a screw, d, which extends through the slot c. This slot is made for the purpose of allowing the part a to be slid back the eX- tent of the slot upon the lower part al, being just sufficient to allow the front edge of the part a to clear the square head of the bolt b. The bolt b is provided at its back end with a round shank, b1, and with a head, b2. The shank b1 lies in the follower g in the ordinary way, this lock. being of a very usual construction. Vhen it is desired to reverse the bolt b the upper face ais pushed back, as shown in Eig. 2, the extent of the slot. Then it will be seen that the square head oi' the bolt b is entirely free on two sides, and may be turned around with ease. When the bolt has been turned the face c is pushed forward to its proper position, as shown in Fig. l, and the lock is put upon the door in the usual way by means of screws through the holes h. When the lock is put on a door the bolt cannot be reversed without removing it, because the attachment screws prevent the sliding of the face.

The great advantage oi' this construction is its simplicity. The only change that is necessary in the construction of the lock is to divide the lock-case in the manlief described and shown, and to make the slot c instead of an ordinary screw-hole, such as has heretofore Y been madel What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The front edge-plate c2 made in two parts, each part .furnishing two adjacent sides ofthe bolt-hole,'aud one part sliding lengthwise of the bolt to permit of the reversal of the bolt, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth. A

In testimony whereof I, the said BARTHEL ERBE, have hereunto set my hand.

BARTHELl ERBE. Witnesses:

T. B. KEER, JAMES I. KAY. 

